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Adelaide to host Socceroos in August

International football will return to Adelaide in August when the State hosts the Asian Cup qualifier match between the Socceroos and Lebanon.

International football will return to Adelaide in August when the State hosts the Asian Cup qualifier match between the Socceroos and Lebanon.

Premier Mike Rann joined with Football Federation Australia Head of Operations Matt Carroll and South Australian Cricket Association deputy chief Terry Davies to announce the match today.

The August 31 evening match will be held at the city-s world famous sporting venue, Adelaide Oval, opening up the spectacular to more than 30,000 South Australians and event visitors.

"This is a great win for our State and comes on the back of our success in luring the 14-day Asian Women-s Championships to Hindmarsh and Marden Stadiums in July," Premier Rann says.

"The women-s championships alone are expected to attract 500 players, officials and media and more than 200 visitors, bringing extra people to the State during the quieter winter months.

"We expect the Socceroos versus Lebanon Asian Cup qualifier to draw large crowds, especially after the Socceroos- World Cup campaign in June.

"Major events are a great chance for us to showcase South Australia and will reinforce our reputation for successfully staging a range of major and world standard sporting events.

"The game will be broadcast live on SBS around Australia and into key Asian markets, giving Asian countries a glimpse of Adelaide and South Australia.

"I-d like to acknowledge the role the South Australian Cricket Association (SACA) has played, along with Events South Australia, to bring this match to the Adelaide Oval, which can accommodate more soccer fans than Adelaide-s traditional home of soccer - Hindmarsh Stadium."

Football Federation Australia (FFA) chief executive John O-Neill says: "We are delighted that South Australia will be hosting a Socceroos- Asian Cup qualification match against Lebanon.

"On behalf of the FFA we-d like to acknowledge the support and enthusiasm of the SA Government for not only this match but also the up-and-coming Asian Women-s Championships this July."

SACA chief executive Mike Deare says they are thrilled to add another major international sporting event to their 2006 calendar.

"As an Asian Cup qualifier match, and on the back-end of what we hope will be a successful 2006 World Cup for Australia, we expect South Australians will turn out in droves.

The Socceroos versus Lebanon match is scheduled for 7.10pm on 31 August 2006 at Adelaide Oval. Information regarding ticketing is expected to be released in the coming weeks.

Football is Australia-s leading participation sport with independent research finding there are more than 1.2 million participants and is one of the fastest growing sports in Australia.